Peter Prellwitz - Shards Book One

She giggled.? Already ahead of you, there. I'll be giving you your name tomorrow night, after dinner.

Tradition."

"Huh? You're picking my name? Why? And why would you even have need of such a tradition? Don't Cues keep their old names?"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you? But the fact is, many do change their names. Maybe as a way of marking old and new times, of starting ties with the present. Of course, many just keep their names.

"Whether or not they keep their original name, though, we still give you a name. We follow the tradition of having the primary researcher-who also acts as counselor for the first few months-name the Cue. Even the Cues who keep their original name often use our name as a middle name. It helps you become a part of us and our time. And it reminds us that we are responsible for you. So since I was the primary researcher, that makes me your counselor, your roomie, and I get the honor of naming you."

"Unfair!"

"Really? Who picked out your present name?"

"Well…"

"Your parents did, of course. Unless they let you grow up, calling you 'it', until you could choose yourself.

In a way, I'm your parent now.? She thought about it a moment.? Well, maybe more like your sister. I hope to be your friend-"

"You are my friend!? I said pretty forcefully and impetuously.

"Mind your manners and don't interrupt. Anyway, I'm your nearest living relative now, and one of your rescuers, and your roommate, so I get to name you."

"You're right. I'm sorry. So you name me tomorrow, huh?? She nodded.? What are you going to call me until then? 'It'?? I smiled and almost, but not quite, giggled.

"Just what I have now; nothing. I've been avoiding calling you John, both to help you acclimate and because it just sounds silly. No offense, John,? she giggled.

I giggled for the first time, and it felt wonderful, like opening a vent and letting all the pressure out.?

None taken. Go ahead and keep doing it that way.? I tapped my head.? I'm still John up here, but it's starting to sound silly to me, too.? I stood up.? I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. I'm also a little afraid of… aargh!? I said with frustration.? I hate these constantly mixed emotions! But I will keep my last name. I'll always be a Wyeth."

"Oh, yeah? What if you get married?"

That floored me. I tried to envision such an impossible circumstance, but my imagination boggled. It boggled because I pictured myself, my old self, in a wedding dress, a ludicrous sight even in the mind's eye. It hit me that I didn't really know what I looked like. I'd only had a brief glimpse of my face in the mirror in the doc's office, and it was pretty dark then. And I'd certainly had no inclination earlier this morning to see any of me. But now I felt the twinges of curiosity tugging at me. I glanced at the full-length mirror, off to the side. Maybe later today.

"I don't really see marriage in the future for me, Susie."

She gave a knowing look.? Well, maybe, maybe not. You're still young. Don't look at me like that.

Anyway, you could still keep Wyeth even if you did marry."

I shrugged.

"I dunno. I'm pretty traditional, and would probably…? My mind caught up with what my mouth was saying, and I shut up. Susie laughed.

"Now how about that tour?"

As a tour, it ended almost before it started. We left our quarters, the ghost door blanking the entire frame, and turned right along the corridor. We skipped the first door on the left-Susie said it would be the last one on the tour-and came to the first door on the right after our room. She knocked on the ghost door. It gave an odd, hollow sound. There was no answer, so we continued on. Susie said it was the quarters of Corporals Bent and Geher, the other two female noncoms beside herself. We continued on to the next door, only three meters further down and also on the right. Susan ushered me in through the double-wide ghost door which allowed us entrance while turning translucent.

We walked down a short hallway and into a large room holding maybe three dozen single beds. The barracks. The women's barracks. There were six women in there with us. Four were sprawled out on their bunks, either sleeping or relaxing. The other two were stark naked, toweling off after a shower. I felt myself getting very uncomfortable and wondered just how loud they'd scream when they saw me. But they didn't. They just waved and curtsied in their birthday suits, mimicking my performance with mischief but no malice. Susan walked us up to them and introduced me. We chatted a bit about something then left. I noticed I hadn't stared a single time, and could actually remember their faces better than their other, um, features.

We stepped out, and I breathed a sigh of relief, sagging against the rock wall. Susan looked at me curiously and far too innocently.? Something wrong?"

"No. Yes. I don't know. That was so weird. You sadistic little so and so. You could have at least warned me!"

She smiled wickedly. This girl had a nasty streak in her I'd have to watch.? Why? Just a bunch of women and one young lady making small talk,? she said naively. But her next comment showed her true thoughts.? So, what was it like?"

"Like I said, weird. I kept thinking that I'd start staring at them and drooling. But I didn't even care.? I blushed.? Well, I cared maybe a little. This is pretty hard to say, but I was… was…"

"Comparing their bodies to yours?"

I stared at her.? How did you know?"

She laughed.? Silly. Almost all women do that. See, I told you you were more woman than you realized.

Just wait until you compare yourself to somebody you know. Like me.? I flushed even more at that thought. Flushing seemed to be one of my more accomplished skills so far this century. I became convinced there was a? Turn Red? switch inside me, and some maniac was at the controls.

"Still, try to warn me, okay?"

"Okay,? she said cheerfully. We walked to the next door on the right, about ten meters down.?

Consider yourself warned. Here are the ladies showers and rest rooms.? She grabbed my arm and tried to haul me in, but being warned, I pulled back.

She tugged harder, but not hard enough to force me, which I'm sure she could.? Come on!"

"Susan, no! I'll die of embarrassment!"

She relented immediately.? All right, then. Let's go in here.? She indicated the next door on the right, five meters from the ladies room.

"What's in there?? I asked suspiciously.

"The men's showers and rest rooms. Now, in you go.? Again she tried to get me in, but pushing this time instead of pulling. This time I really lost it. My little maniac was hitting the red button. With a sledge hammer.

"Are you crazy! I can't go in there!"

She stopped her pushing and crossed her arms.? So what's it going to be? Men's? Women's? Or should we just dig a hole for you outside the cave?"

"I don't know,? I said sullenly.

"Good grief! One or the other! Decide! Either that or…? she paused and smiled mischievously.? Or we can just wait an hour or so and let nature decide. You drank an awful lot of juice for breakfast, you know. Milk, too."

Now here was a problem. And her mentioning it only made it worse, cutting her hour estimate down considerably. By about an hour. But the problem was all in my head. There really only was one choice. I might die of embarrassment in the ladies room, but I'd probably get arrested in the men's. Giving her as indignant a? Hmmph!? as I could muster, I walked into the ladies room, Susan following.

When we came out five minutes later, I was relieved, in more ways than one. Despite her attempts at making it as terrible an experience as possible-including shouting out helpful and somewhat vulgar hints while I made use of the facilities-it wasn't uncomfortable at all. Which was her point. A point she intended to drive home.